Al Rakayat Fort: A 19th-Century Historical Marvel In Qatar

Familiar with the historical tales of the Middle East? Well, Qatar is a country that is filled with desert forts and has a fair share of stories to share with travelers today. Over the years, the country has had millions of historical explorers and travelers who have come to witness the amazing fortresses. While some were built to protect the region from invasions, other fortresses were set up solely for the purpose of protecting the water sources in the region.

Speaking of one such fort, the Al Rakayat Fort in Qatar is a fine example of desert forts and 19th-century architecture in Qatar. This is a fort that has undergone renovation in the past and stands in the northwestern corner of the country.

Let's dive in deep and understand the history of the fort better.

When & Why Was The Fort Of Al Rakayat Built?

Standing today as one of the several historical forts in Qatar, the fort of Al Rakayat was built in the 19th century in the North-Western corner of the state. As the history of the region has it, the fort was built in order to protect the water sources in the region. During the 19th century, there used to be a village in the area that had supplies of freshwater. The fort was, hence, built for the protection of these water sources.

Significance Of Al Rakayat Fort & Its Name

Something that historical explorers would find particularly interesting, the Rakayat Fort in Qatar was built especially for the villagers. Standing as a deserted fort in the middle of nowhere, the name of the fort in Arabic means "Well", which signifies its importance in protecting the freshwater source. This is one of the many forts in Qatar where the remnants of the village can still be found today. What is interesting is that the fort still contains a 5 KM deep well. This is the same well from which villagers painstakingly pulled up water. Although the overall height of the fort isn't much, it still played a massive role for the villagers during the time.

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What Does The Fort Feature?

It is interesting how there are so many historical places to visit in Qatar but only a few catch the eye of the visitors in time. Speaking of Al Rakayat, the fort has a height of only three meters while there are three rectangular and one cylindrical watchtower at the corners. There is a staircase that leads to each tower while there is also a central courtyard to form a part of the whole structure. What is exciting is that the top of the towers offers some sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf and the rocky landscape that exists in the region.

Discoveries Made At The Fort Of Al Rakayat

Every fort in and around corners of Doha has a story to tell. These forts have given some valuable remains from the past and still continue to do so. Today, it is the job of the excavators to dig out the historical remnants and preserve them for the future. As far as the Al Rakayat is concerned, some valuable discoveries have indeed been made at the fort during excavations. So, here are some of the things that have been discovered at the Rakayat fort in Qatar.

• On the three sides of the central courtyard, the fort features narrow rooms. These rooms are particularly famous as an ancient date press madbasa was discovered here.
• Another interesting discovery was made during the excavation work when an Islamic coin dating back to the Abbasid Period (749 - 846 AD) was discovered. It was a huge discovery for the excavators and has earned the fort the status of being amongst the most well preserved historical sites in the Middle East.

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Is There An Ideal Time To Visit The Fort Of Al Rakayat?

There's always an ideal time to go to a particular place, right? As far as Al Rakayat is concerned, this is a historical site where travelers should generally look to visit in the evenings. Why?

Well, Qatar is a country that experiences high temperatures during the daytime. Especially during summers, the temperatures in Qatar reach new heights which can make sightseeing and exploration a challenging task for visitors. Since the fort is nestled in the desert, visiting here daytimes doesn't make sense keeping the heat in mind.

Hence, for travelers planning to visit the fort, it is perhaps better to do it during the evenings as the temperatures cool down a little by then and one can enjoy the most amazing time exploring the fort and its surroundings.

However, travelers are advised to carry water, food items, and all the necessary aid they need with them as it is always better to carry such things when visiting a deserted fort.

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How To Reach Rakayat Fort In Qatar?

Reaching this fort isn't a big hassle for travelers today. The fort is easily accessible by road and one can either drive or take public transport to reach here. What is important to note, however, in this case, is that the fort lies in an offbeat location. Hence, travelers should plan their journey in a 4x4 vehicle as such vehicles are perfect for off-road driving.

Besides, here's how you can reach the fort -

• Take the Al Shamal Road route from Doha Al Ruwais.
• Drive for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The distance is around 116 KM.
• The fort is located about 15 minutes further from there.

One of the most well preserved historical sites in Qatar, the Al Rakayat Fort is a fine example of 19th-century architecture. This is a fort that carried huge significance in the lives of the villagers during that time and was renovated in the 1980s.

Standing as a typical desert fort with rectangular and cylindrical towers, Al Rakayat has played a huge role in protecting the water sources in the region.

So, are you interested in exploring the historical sites of Qatar? The country has enough wonders to surprise you. Visit the Rakayat fort and catch sight of this amazing 19th-century architectural marvel.

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